VO2 max guide: Understand and increase your fitness level with wearables
This guide covers everything you need to know about the VO2 max estimation on your smartwatch or sports watch—what it is, accuracy, and more.
Condensed by AI-Portable from Editorial queue.
Everything you need to know about the fitness estimation on your wearable.
Almost every major smartwatch or sports watch will now estimate your VO2 max without you having to take a gruelling lab test.
It’s often branded differently from ‘VO2 max’ on your device or companion app, but it’s now prevalent across the industry. Apple, Garmin, Whoop, and Oura are just some of the companies using bespoke algorithms to detect your fitness level.
It means that what was once a metric for elite athletes has become a piece of fitness data that recreational runners and gym lovers can start to obsess over.
But… what exactly is VO2 max—and, most importantly, can you trust a fitness tracker or smartwatch to give you an accurate reading? This guide delves into the murky world of VO2 max to help answer those questions and more.
Heart rate variability – everything you need to know
VO2 max refers to your body’s ability to use oxygen during exercise. It’s typically measured in milliliters consumed per minute per kilogram of body weight (mL/kg/min).
The amount of oxygen you transfer to your blood changes and increases as you start exercising; VO2 max is the level at which the amount of oxygen being processed maxes out and plateaus.